Othello+Act+4

Act 4 Othello
Act IV Plot Outline:

Iago makes insinuations of unfaithfulness of Othello’s wife Desdemona and then admits that Cassio has indeed slept with his wife. Othello falls into a fit (trance). Iago tells Cassio that he would like to speak to him after Othello has recovered and gone. Meanwhile Othello comes out of the fit and Iago tells him to hide. Iago tells Othello that he will ask Cassio about how he has slept with his wife. Iago then informs the audience that he will talk to Cassio about his prostitute Bianca and that Othello will think he is talking about his wife. In this scene Bianca happens to enter while Cassio has been talking with Iago. She has the handkerchief in her hand, accusing him of giving her a love token of another woman’s. Bianca and Cassio leave together and Othello comes out of hiding. Othello is convinced of Desdemona's infidelity. Iago suggests Desdemona is killed in their bed and Iago will arrang Cassio’s death. Lodovico enters bearing a message from Venice. Othello is to leave Cyprus for Venice leaving Cassio in charge in Cyprus, he is not happy with Lodovico talking with Desdemona or the message. Othello accuses her of being false and a whore and storms off. Othello then interrogates Emilia about Desdemona’s love for him. Desdemona comes in and proclaims her innocence but Othello does not listen, and storms out. Desdemona seeks out Iago to try and work out why Othello thinks she has cheated on her. They are then called to a state dinner. Rodregio comes in and tells Iago that he is fustrated in his love for Desdemona. Iago distracts Rodregio and tells him that Cassio is taking Othello’s place in Cyprus and says that Othello is off to Africa setting Rodregio up to kill Cassio. Desdemona, is ordered to go to bed by Othello. Emilia undresses her and talks, Desdemona sings her song “Willow” about the fatalism about love and makes ready for bed.

** Stopping points: ACT IV, Scene I - Scene III ** Revise Act III – plot summary

Questions: What is the symbolic meaning of the handkerchief? Why does Othello use the croaking raven simile? Draw a symbol, in your pairs, representing the raven and the handkerchief
 * In pairs for reading activity: 0-45 **
 * Take turns reading, one is Othello and the other is Iago, to line 45 up to the point of Othello’s fit **

Discuss in pairs what is going to happen next?

What is Iago up to? Find an example in the text that tells you what he is about to set-up.
 * In pairs read up to line 95: change the reading every time you come to a punctuation mark. **

Relate what is happening between Iago and Cassio’s talk – do boyfriends talk about girls like that today? Is Bianca a whore? Is this male attitude still typical today? Dispute Iago’s representation of Bianca, remember back in the play, Iago does not speak well about women in general. Have a short debate. Two on Bianca’s side and two on Iago’s side. Then after the debate discuss what came out, and what were the key points that each side said. List the key points, from both sides, down in your Shakespeare learning journal.
 * Get into a group of four: **
 * As a group work out in a team how you would like to read the next 2 pages, up to line 160.Be ready to discuss in class why you chose to do the reading like you did. **

Discuss why Othello can be tricked, have you ever had the wrong perception or taken something the wrong way, share in your group.

Othello’s reaction is powerful – what kind of headline and caption could you write about Othello and Cassio relationship or Othello and Iago’s plan Example “Dying to Kill Him” – Othello makes it known that he is out to get his best friend
 * Pairs; Next reading lines 160 to 200 **

How is murder justified – discuss in pairs why this is acceptable…

List your reasons down and be prepared to share them with the class.

List four important events in this reading – pick one each and draw the moment of the event.Make a caption under the drawing what is happening 2 sentences maximum
 * Next reading 200 to 270 **
 * Groups of four each taking a part when reading **

In your groups delegate: Find 2 quotes from Lodovico recalling Othello’s past nature Find a quote from Iago where the word ‘honest’ is used, in what context is it used this time? Find a quote from Othello where he says that Desdemona is not being true. Compare with Act I when he is talking about Desdemona. Refer to your journal for Act I. Is Othello going insane?

Each take one of these speeches and discuss to the others what your speech was about: 1. Make a short summary of what Othello and Emilia are talking about 2. Make a short summary of what Desdemona and Othello are talking about 3. Make a short summary of what Desdemona and Emilia talk about 4. Make a short summary of what Desdemona, Emilia and Iago talk about
 * Next reading Act IV scene II **
 * In your group of four - read up to lines 170 **

Present these findings in four boxes on poster paper Have a title with key words that sums up the speech

Where did you start raising your voices? Give a reason why you felt it necessary to become more vocal at that point.
 * In pairs read by whispering the lines and slowly get louder 170 to 235 **

Discuss in pairs - Othello appears calm towards Desdemona, why?
 * Next reading Act IV scene III **
 * In pairs read to lines 55 **

This act foreshadows of things to come; write down what you think some of these things are…do a flow chart, with pictures, in order of what is foreshadowed…then predict Act V in the last flow chart box.

Foreshadowing what will happen in the next act: Example – 1. The sheets are laid out on the bed

Discuss in group - What is Feminism? Feminism is…. What views do Desdemona and Emilia have on marriage and men?
 * In your group: Lines 55 to end **

Emilia and Desdemona both have different views on marriage and men What lines illustrate Emilia’s view that are feminist orientated? Write them down In contrast find some lines from Desdemona that are opposite views

Write them up in a T-Bar format Then put each line in your own words and recite them to each other how you would say it if you were one of the characters